'Hole In The Wall' gang snatch thousands from bank cash machine

'Audacious' raiders drill into wall and plunder cash in dead of night during heavy snow

The hastily-repaired hole in the wall at the Lloyds TSB on Hagley Road West in Warley

Enterprising thieves got away with tens of thousands of pounds in a daring “hole in the wall” robbery.

The gang cut a hole in the side of a bank big enough for one of them to squeeze through and help themselves to the cash in the ATM.

The robbery was only discovered when staff came into work the following morning and discovered the gaping hole.

It happened some time on Sunday night at Lloyds TSB on Hagley Road West in Warley.

The robbery took place during heavy snow when the roads would have been quiet and there would not have been many people around.

Staff found the hole when they arrived on Monday morning.

The Lloyds TSB on Hagley Road West in Warley

Police say the heist was “well-planned and audacious” and the cheeky gang even brought along their own tarpaulin so they could drill away in secret.

Det Sgt Michael Greenland, from force CID, said: “This was an organised and carefully planned raid on a bank, at a time when the cash machine was well stocked.

“The audacious robbery happened just a few feet from the busy Hagley Road West and the offenders even covered their tracks by placing a tarpaulin sheet over the rear yard to hide their activities from view.”

He said the gang “clearly knew what they were doing” as the robbery was committed very quickly and they made a clean, speedy getaway.

Police are appealing for anyone who was walking or driving past the bank on Sunday night, or the early hours of Monday morning, and saw anything to come forward.

* Anyone with information should call Sandwell Force CID team on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.